Bhutan’s 2013 election was a disaster in every sense. Unfortunately few people realize WHAT happened and HOW it happened. Even fewer can comprehend WHY it happened. But of one thing I am sure - by now a whole lot of Bhutanese people have come to realize that there is no reason whatsoever to rejoice in the fact that the infamous Article 2 of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty of 1949 is no longer a clause in the revised treaty we signed with India in 2007.
India’s unabashed transgression into our domestic affairs has demonstrated that where it is an understanding between two unequal partners, there is little reason to believe that any commitment - whether written or unwritten, will be respected - particularly by the stronger of the two parties. The precariousness of our standing in this partnership became all too evident - in the aftermath of the bullying we have been subject to by India.
We had placed full trust on India and her apparent goodness. However, what they did during our last election proves that it is unwise to do so - explicitly. They have dealt us an unexpected raw deal. However, there is nothing we can do now - except swallow our pride and move on. But there is a lesson to be learnt from this shameful episode. Our vulnerability has been exposed. The honeymoon period is over - it is now time for a realty check - a time for a hard look at the facts of life.
The list of our problems runs longer than a woman’s Sunday grocery shopping list. Fifty-two years of planned developmental activities that started in 1961 saw us getting deeper and deeper into debt and dependence. Most of our problems cannot be solved overnight - but some problems are more precarious than others. These are the problems we need to solve without delay. In order of exigency, the following two issues need to be addressed without delay because they have the potential to jeopardize our very sovereignty and nationhood.
a. Our unresolved border dispute with our neighbor in the North; and
b. The lopsided hydropower ventures funded and managed by India
We can no longer ignore the danger signs that have begun to emerge in recent times - surrounding the above two issues. There is an URGENT need for us to accurately comprehend the consequences of our inaction in these two matters. Thereafter, we have to deal with the problems with courage and foresight. By all means we have to take into account India’s security concerns with respect to the border issues with China. However, at the end, India has to accept that they cannot ask us to jeopardize our own security and sovereignty - in order that theirs is protected.
With respect to the hydro-power projects, we have to judge India on the basis of the nobility of their intentions. There is something not quite right about the way things have been going in that sector. It is time that we made a realistic assessment between the perceived and the real economic gains - as opposed to the social and environmental costs to the country as a consequence of these projects.
……………. to be continued
India’s unabashed transgression into our domestic affairs has demonstrated that where it is an understanding between two unequal partners, there is little reason to believe that any commitment - whether written or unwritten, will be respected - particularly by the stronger of the two parties. The precariousness of our standing in this partnership became all too evident - in the aftermath of the bullying we have been subject to by India.
We had placed full trust on India and her apparent goodness. However, what they did during our last election proves that it is unwise to do so - explicitly. They have dealt us an unexpected raw deal. However, there is nothing we can do now - except swallow our pride and move on. But there is a lesson to be learnt from this shameful episode. Our vulnerability has been exposed. The honeymoon period is over - it is now time for a realty check - a time for a hard look at the facts of life.
The list of our problems runs longer than a woman’s Sunday grocery shopping list. Fifty-two years of planned developmental activities that started in 1961 saw us getting deeper and deeper into debt and dependence. Most of our problems cannot be solved overnight - but some problems are more precarious than others. These are the problems we need to solve without delay. In order of exigency, the following two issues need to be addressed without delay because they have the potential to jeopardize our very sovereignty and nationhood.
a. Our unresolved border dispute with our neighbor in the North; and
b. The lopsided hydropower ventures funded and managed by India
We can no longer ignore the danger signs that have begun to emerge in recent times - surrounding the above two issues. There is an URGENT need for us to accurately comprehend the consequences of our inaction in these two matters. Thereafter, we have to deal with the problems with courage and foresight. By all means we have to take into account India’s security concerns with respect to the border issues with China. However, at the end, India has to accept that they cannot ask us to jeopardize our own security and sovereignty - in order that theirs is protected.
With respect to the hydro-power projects, we have to judge India on the basis of the nobility of their intentions. There is something not quite right about the way things have been going in that sector. It is time that we made a realistic assessment between the perceived and the real economic gains - as opposed to the social and environmental costs to the country as a consequence of these projects.
……………. to be continued
i agree to some of the points but totally disagree with your view(stemmed from denial mode) that 2013 election was disaster. What is there for you to convince that indian influence has turned the outcome of election result? I dont think the villagers did not know about the subsidy issue let alone it getting influence their voting choice. It is the only reason where loser like you find comfortable to take refuge in.
ReplyDeleteThis poster is no doubt PDP supporter. Quality is like that of other PDP supporters. If you have no brains to understand what the author is writing at least keep your mouth shut and try to learn from him. He has brought out very important matter which not many people understand. Let him complete which I think he has not still. This is too much for the brains of PDP supporters.
Deletewhen someone doesn't buy somebody's view, it doesn't mean that person doesn't have brain. Infact that person has a brain which is different. When someone cannot accept a differnt opinion, that person surely has a comprehension problem (may be lack of brain as you suggest). Not everybody will consider a divisive article as very important matter to understand it. It may serve as potion for disgruntled disillusioned DPT supporters like you to distract yourself from reality but it is not in the interest of the Bhutanese population at large.
DeleteThe Anonymous (the one replying to author) here did not understand what the writer conveyed... read again..
DeleteI fully agree with this assessment. Indians have indeed influenced the outcome of this election and the new government is nothing more than a puppet installed by New Delhi.
ReplyDeleteDPT's mouth piece is still going strong. He thinks he shouldn't give up despite JYT giving up. Let's see how far he continues.
ReplyDeleteThose two guys against his articles are the most foolish or least educated and they will know the consequences only after they are really into hell!
ReplyDeleteEvery Bhutanese knows the truth about 2013 elections. Ofcourse PDP supporters obviously would not admit it and many others dare not talk about it. The collusion of PDP and DNT and interference of Indian government was a blow to so called free and fair elections, and worst of all some apolitical institutions taking sides was a final nail to the coffin.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely correct, everyone knows that the 2013 elections were fixed to ensure a PDP win, the sad part is that so many people and institutions who we always respected played a role in allowing this to happen. Big brother India played their part in this fiasco. Now most people don't even gives a shit about what the PDP is doing. I guess many people have also decided to never vote again.
DeleteLeaving party politics aside, these are two very pertinent issues that all Bhutanese must be concerned about. I applaud the author for bringing these here. This is where our focus should have been all this time. We should have never been dragged into such a scenario where even our elections can be influenced by another country. Our previous government went all out on hydropower development - see where we are now. An economic and environment mess. All to fulfill India's grand scheme of building 292 Hydropower Plants across the Himalayas. Instead of weaning away from Indian aid, we went further into their fold.
ReplyDeleteOn the border in the north - the only sensible resolution is one that is done openly and transparently. Our leaders should have paved a way for this, keeping our other neighbours in the loop. Here again, they have failed. In the era of instant media, covert operations are not intelligent ways to do geo-politics.
Panicking when things finally go awry is meaningless if we have not prepared ourselves for such an eventuality. Now is the time to have an intelligent government. If you have sound ideas share it with the government - at least they will listen (unlike before).
Wrong on both counts, hydro-power is our lifeline and only way of becoming self reliant, hence, the DPTs drive to start more hydro-power projects. The loans for them had to be sought from India, but once the hydro-power projects are up and running, we will see the benefits. In regard to JYTs meeting with China, it was not done covertly, it was done under the glare of everyone. With PDP openly siding with India, I am not sure how any meeting with China will now pan out.
Deleteall said and done....the turn of events in the past few months heralds the beginning of the end (of something).
ReplyDeleteA cat and a mouse can only be friends as long as the cat is not hungry or upset. It is useful for a mouse to befriend a dog. But the best bet is to build a hole with an emergency exit where neither the cat nor the dog can enter. However, as long as there are rats willing to sell themselves, nothing can be fullproof.
ReplyDeletevery true....but unfortunately the PDP rats are willing to sell our peaceful rat hole making us all vulnerable to the cats.
ReplyDeleteSounds like son of Gadhafi...needs to be met with same fate...
DeleteIt seems to me that the author is succeeding in his mission - that of hoodwinking the staunch and gullible DPT supporters and the not-so-familiar-about-the-author fence sitters. I can tell you with 90% certainty that this author is the first person least bothered about what will happen to Bhutan and her future ... be it because of DPT or PDP or any other parties' mistake and mis-steps. For reasons known only to him, his world revolves around and ends with DPT. If he was a PDP supporter he would be lavishing us with a plethora of platitudes about the virtues of PDP and how as a nation we stand to benefit. I find this guy the most dangerous living Bhutanese man as of this moment for Bhutan and her future. I never thought he could be THIS!!! vile and selfish! Our country will be far more safe and stable without a person like this man skillfully playing with the emotions of ordinary Bhutanese with his so all-well-meaning-all-intellectual-all-Shakespearean-prose act.
ReplyDeleteMan, I am truly amazed by the audacity of this man taking many Bhutanese for fools! I would not be surprised what he is about to serve us for the "Main Course". Dear countrymen and women, remember the saying "looks can be deceiving".
Oh well, it's your prerogative to publish or not this comment.
I second the author 100 %.
ReplyDeleteHats off to Yeshey Dorji for highlighting the above two key issues, which undoubtedly are critical for our sovereignty and nationhood. For example, look at the PHPC-1 cost escalation and air of uncertainty for completion.
ReplyDeletePHPC 1 is a bad dream we do not wish to recollect in the morning.
ReplyDelete